Neurology

Epilepsy

Legacy Health has a long history of well-known and trusted epilepsy diagnosis, monitoring and care, opening our service in 1975 as one of only five in the nation and the first of its kind in the region. Today we diagnose and treat children and adults at Legacy Good Samaritan, Legacy Salmon Creek and Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.

Epilepsy is a disorder known for causing seizures. It is caused from electrical events in the brain. To learn more, go to our health library.

We care for epilepsy patients with compassion and understanding. We understand how important the proper diagnosis and right medication is to your quality of life.

Our epilepsy services

Our goal is to help you manage your seizures and medicines so you can have the best possible quality of life. This starts with the proper diagnosis. Our diagnostic services include:

Imaging - MRI with specific epilepsy protocol imaging, PET

Standard EEG – single-day testing on an outpatient basis

Ambulatory EEG – monitoring equipment you take home with you for 24-72 hours

Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) – monitoring in one of two hospital Epilepsy Monitoring Units, usually for 3-5 days. Admission for continuous video EEG monitoring in one of our two hospital EMUs. For more information on what to expect from your stay in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, download these PDFs:What to expect — for adultsWhat to expect — for children

Epilepsy treatment

Your doctor will create a treatment plan for you designed to control your seizures as much as possible. It is also important to get your medications right, so you can enjoy as many activities as possible. Your doctor will listen to your goals for treatment and consider:

Your personal situation

The kind of seizures you have and how often you have them

How medication has worked for you in the past

Research

Legacy Research Institute is actively studying epilepsy treatments. Read more about the research studies on dietary therapy for epilepsy and silky brain implants to help stop the spread of epilepsy.